LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

By Air to Masterton. Mr D. P. Kennedy left the Hood Aerodrome this morning for Wellington, and returned later with a passenger, Mr K. Smith, of Wellington. Southland Freezing Season. The killings at the three Southland freezing works are expected to exceed 1,300,000, and it is claimed by growers that greater numbers have been railed north this season because of the congestion at the local works. Plague of Rats. A plague of rats is troubling New Plymouth. So heavily has one shopkeeper been affected that losses on his stock in the past two months have cost him more than the weekly rent. Cats, traps and poison have had little effect. An explanation of the present plague is offered by a business man, who said that unusually warm weather recently caused them to delay their storing for winter, but, with the cold snap, they had been forced to leave the rivers and make for food. Taxation and Pensions. “The Savage Government’s heavy taxation and nationalising legislation may properly be criticised,” said Mr H. Atmore, M.P., in his address at Nelson last evening, “but its humanitarian measures are more in keeping with the tenets of true religion 'han were the callous reductions in pensions of the poor by their predecessors. It is high time party recriminations ceased, and they could well be replaced by higher objectives and nobler aims. There is plenty of scope for honourable competition in evolving plans for the eradication of disease and poverty in this young country, which is so full of promise and so rich in potentiality.”

Masterton East School Social.

A very enjoyable social was held on Saturday night by the Masterton East School. The music was supplied by Mr J. W. Barnes. The Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss R. Torwick and Mr G. McKenzie. An extra was played by Mr G. McKenzie (piano-accordion) and Mr R. McGovern (cornet). During the evening Miss Wendy Torwick gave two pleasing tap dances, which were i.ruch appreciated. Mr P. Ward was M.C. Helensville Bananas.

Illustrating the unusual soil fertility and the semi-tropical nature of the cl: ■ mate at Helensville, bananas of the finest quality have been grown in the grounds of the Parakai Hot Springs Hotel. The heavy clusters were stated to be equal in taste to the finest of imported lines, and guests at the hotel recently had the novel experience of tasting excellent fruit that was raised within a stone’s throw of their table?.

Fines and Sustenance. "If I fine these men. as counsel suggests, the fines will only be paid back by the Government in the form of sustenance,” said Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in Auckland on Friday, when two seamen pleaded guilty to deserting from the steamer Hertford at Auckland. Evidence was given that at the present time the shipping company had no positions available. Both accused were remanded until Monday for sentence. Mutton Supplies. The opinion that in a few weeks’ time mutton is likely to be in short supply in the Wairarapa, following on the serious sheep losses in the Waikato, is pressed by a Masterton butcher. He stated that Hawke’s Bay and Waikato buyers were already operating in the Wairarapa, and their activities would cause a local shortage. He pointe 1 out that city supplies were drawn from the country as a whole, and not from any particular district.